Just a Little White Lie(13)

“You know what you’re supposed to do now?” Jake asked.

“Yes, sir.” He rubbed at his short-cropped salt-and-pepper hair. “First thing tomorrow mornin’, I take Miss Lucinda’s suitcase to UPS and send it out next-day delivery.”

“It will be expensive,” Lucinda said, “but I need it. So make sure you overnight it. I’d do it myself, but with it being Sunday…” She held out her hands, palms up. “And we sure can’t take it on the bike.”

“No, ma’am.”

“I really appreciate this. Any money that’s left is yours.”

Maynard threw her a toothy grin. “Yes, ma’am. And I’ll keep your car inside like you said.”

“If any reporters find it?” Jake slid his sunglasses down his nose. “Ask about Lucy?”

“Why do you do that, Jake? My name’s Lucinda.” She interrupted him, and he turned and peered at her.

“I don’t think so. Lucinda’s an uptight executive who runs a boardroom with an iron fist. Lucy wears jeans and rides a bike.” He squinted at her. Nodded. “You’re a Lucy.”

“You don’t know me, Jake.”

“You’d be wrong there. Lucy has been bullied, that’s all, till she’s given Lucinda free rein.”

She rolled her eyes and decided not to say anything else. No need to encourage him.

Jake turned back to Maynard. “So, what are you gonna tell the reporters if they ask?”

Maynard scratched his bald spot. “She went off with some trucker to Flagstaff, Colorado.”

“No.” Jake’s lips lifted in a half-smile. “She caught a ride with a trucker.”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

“Subtle difference, Maynard.”

“Okay. Whatever that means.”

“And Flagstaff is in Arizona,” Lucinda corrected. “Mabs will back you up on this.”

“Don’t you worry none ’bout me. I got this covered.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Jake said





Half an hour later, Jake turned the big bike off the interstate onto a narrow two-lane. As they wound their way through the Georgia backcountry, Lucinda was amazed at the feeling of peace, of exhilaration, of freedom that winged through her.

She wanted to rip off her helmet so the wind could blow through her hair. She wanted to shout for joy that she was alive and on the back of this motorcycle—with this man.

God, what was wrong with her?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

She laughed out loud, met Jake’s eyes in the small rearview mirror when he looked back at her.

And then…she winked at him.

She’d never in her entire life winked at a man!

He winked back, and she tossed her head and laughed again. Even the hair-brained plan she’d agreed to couldn’t dampen her spirits.

This was wonderful! Why hadn’t she ever done it before? God, maybe she was a Lucy!

No. She wasn’t. This was just…an intermission. A breathing space before she headed back to the rest of her life. Picked up the pieces. But she might as well enjoy today. She tipped her face to the sun and grinned.

Her cheerfulness evaporated an hour later, when Jake pulled into a convenience store for gas. Her own face stared up at her from the front page of the national news. While certainly not the first time she’d made the paper, it was usually for some charity event or other, not because she’d run from her own wedding and was now thought to have been kidnapped.

She’d have to do something about this before Jake ended up in jail. And she would. Later. With any luck, no one would recognize her in denims and helmet.

Jake got back on the bike. “Another hour and a half, Lucy, we’ll be there.”

Lucy. Argh.

The road climbed as they traveled farther north. The scenery was amazing, lush and green everywhere she looked.

Her butt was ready to cry uncle when Jake pointed to a small sign. PRIDE, POPULATION 5600.

Home. Temporarily.

Jake zigzagged the big bike through a maze of quiet side streets before pulling into the drive of a small white bungalow, nestled in flowering shrubs, pink crape myrtles and flamboyant daylilies. Window boxes added still more splashes of color and warmth.

It was charming.

A few houses down, a dog barked in a backyard. A fly landed on her arm, and she shooed it away. Lights were on in most of the houses. People going about their lives on an ordinary day.

An ordinary day. After yesterday, she doubted she’d see another of those for a very long time.

And still, she felt exhilarated.

When she slid off the bike, she could hardly stand. Muscles no exercise class touched were beyond sore.

“Walk a bit,” Jake said. “You’ll shake it off.”